Kaplan College is Now Brightwood College
In 2016, Kaplan College Bakersfield changed their name to Brightwood College. They currently offer 4 medical programs: Dental Assistant Diploma Program, Medical Office Specialist Diploma Program, Medical Assistant Diploma Program, and an Associate degree in Medical Assisting.
Brightwood College has 10 campuses in California, stretching from Bakersfield to San Diego. They also have locations in 7 other states. Aside from California, Brightwood College has campuses in Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. The two states with the most campuses are California(10), and Texas(13).
Dental Assistant Program at Brightwood College(formerly Kaplan College)
At Brightwood College Bakersfield, you can earn your diploma in Dental Assisting in less than 12 months. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the need for qualified dental assistants will continue to rise steadily through at least 2024. Along with this strong demand for professionals in dental assisting comes a strong increase in salary. The average dental assistant salary is now $18.22 per hour. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has the dental assistants in the top 10% earning more than $25.00 per hour.
Many dental assistants decide to further their education by attending one of the dental hygiene schools in California. The advanced training an RDH receives has pushed the average dental hygienist salary to close to $80,000!
Brightwood College trains their students in a real world environment, so you’ll be able to hit the ground running as soon as you graduate. The knowledgeable and experienced instructors are there to assist you in developing all the skills needed to work competently in today’s challenging dental field. You can choose from either day or evening classes, so that you can get your education while still meeting your work and family demands.
Medical Office Specialist Diploma at Brightwood College
At Brightwood College(formerly Kaplan College), you can have a great career as a medical office specialist in less than a year. The diploma program at Brightwood College is 9 months in length. Medical Office Specialists learn skills to effectively work in a front office setting, with special focus on the business and administrative side of the medical industry. A medical office can often be a chaotic space. Medical Office Specialists help bring order to a chaotic environment.
Students in the Medical Office Specialist program receive training in management of the medical office team, as well as how to make use of the most up to date computer applications. These computer applications are invaluable tools for insurance billing, medical coding, patient scheduling, and other uses.
You’ll also be trained in the management of medical claims, insurance, and healthcare administration. OSHA and HIPAA policies are also covered. Medical emergency training and CPR certification are also taught.
Medical Assistant Diploma & Associate Degree Programs
Brightwood College(formerly Kaplan College) offers 2 educational tracks for those interested in a career as a Medical Assistant. The Diploma program takes 12 months to complete, and allows the student to take the nescessary exam to become certified.
The average certified medical assistant salary was $31,540 in 2016. The second educational track at Brightwood College Bakersfield is the Associate degree track. This Medical Assistant program grants the graduate an Associate of Applied Science degree. Many graduates of Brightwood’s Medical Assistant diploma program continue on to the Associate Medical Assistant program.
In order to succeed as a Certified Medical Assistant, you need to have strong knowledge of medical guidelines and terminology. You’ll also need training in administrative and clinical skills. Clinical skills include such things as drawing blood, taking vital signs, giving injections, and proper usage of the medical equipment that is present in most healthcare settings.
These skills are exactly what you’ll learn at Brightwood College Bakersfield. You’ll aslo learn how to assist the physician in minor surgical procedures. HIPAA laws and medical ethical issues are also taught. You’ll also prepare to take the Medical Assistant certification exam.